Health Science Specialist

Summary

This position is located in the Research and Development (R&D) Service at the John Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. The Health Science Specialist is fully responsible for managing clinical tests—ensuring development, coordination, and technical management of databases—collecting data, recruiting and managing subjects for clinical trials, and providing high‑level site support of projects in a comprehensive research setting, including day‑to‑day support for the VA Research Program.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement (02/25/2026).

Time‑In‑Grade Requirements applicants who are current federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time‑in‑grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS‑09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑07 (the grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the federal service).

An SF‑50 that shows your time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Provide a copy of your most recent SF‑50 'Notification of Personnel Action' to indicate your current federal status. You must also submit additional SF‑50(s) to clearly demonstrate one year time‑in‑grade as required in the announcement. If the most recent SF‑50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year time‑in‑grade.

In this instance you must provide an additional SF‑50 that clearly demonstrates one year time‑in‑grade. Time‑In‑Grade requirements also apply to former federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. AND You may qualify based on your education, experience, or combination as described below. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Basic Education Requirement possess a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university in a major study in an academic field related to the medical field—health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of this position.

NOTE:

You must submit copies of transcripts at the time of application. Education will not be credited without documentation.

Education/Experience Options for GS‑9 level in addition to the Basic Education Requirement you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Specialized
  
  Experience:
  
  at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS‑7) in the federal service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Science Specialist. Specialized experience includes coordinating and managing day‑to‑day clinical research projects, enrolling and interviewing patients, obtaining informed consent, monitoring progress, conducting research investigatory processes, compiling and analyzing data, ensuring regulatory compliance, completing all regulatory requirements for safe conduct of research, making recommendations of findings, presenting abstracts/posters at VA research week, and manuscript writing.
  
  Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the duties and the number of hours per week spent in such employment.
• Education: successful completion of two (2) years of progressively higher‑level graduate education leading to a master’s degree or equivalent graduate degree related to the position that provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
  
  NOTE:
  
  If you select this option you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.
• Combination: equivalent combinations of graduate‑level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience that meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must have provided the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
  
  NOTE:
  
  Copies of transcripts must be submitted. Education cannot be credited…